Skin Architecture, Kidney Transplantation, and Their Relationship to Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract

Background/aim: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is highly prevalent in kidney transplant patients (KT). It is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate. In this study, we examined the presence of similar infiltrates in intact skin, which could be regarded as a precancerous step.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed skin biopsies of 19 non-transplanted patients with a diagnosis of SCC or basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 17 KT with either SCC or BCC.

Results: KT showed increased inflammatory infiltrate in the subepithelial region, compared to non-transplanted patients. The density of basal cell nuclei was also different among the four groups with an interaction effect between tumor type and transplantation. The extent of inflammatory infiltrates did not correlate with the eGFR and proteinuria.

Conclusion: KT with a non-melanoma skin cancer show increased intact skin inflammatory infiltrate and alterations in the density of the basal cell layer compared to non-transplanted patients.

Keywords: Immunosuppression; kidney transplantation; onconephrology; skin.